Float controlled irrigation device



June 20, 1950 s. E. s FER 2,512,176

FLOAT CONTROLLED IRRIGATION DEVICE Filed Jan. 10, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 20, 1950 s. E. SHAFFER 2,512,176

FLOAT CONTROLLED IRRIGATION DEVICE Filed Jan. 10, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 hzhbrwzzil 1 A'rrrs lNVE/YTOR .5. .EiSbaffer Patented June 20, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOAT CONTROLLED RRIGATION DEVICE StanleyE. Shaffer, Merced, Calif.

Application J anuary lll, 1949, Serial No. 70,109

This'invention is directed to, and it isan ob- Jectto provide, a novel irrigation device; the device being adapted for connection to a water supply hose, and operative to automatically shut-off the: flow, upon the water about the device reaching a predetermined level.

- Another object of the invention is to providean irrigation device, as above, which embodies a'locking mechanism operative to automatically, but manually releasably, lock said device against reopening upon the lowering of the surrounding water level, whereby to prevent undesirable recurring irrigation flow from the device.

A futher object of the invention is to provide an irrigation device which includes a novel outlet arrangement which assures against washing away of the ground directly beneath, and on which, the device is supported. An additional object of theinvention is to provide an irrigation device which is compact and light in weight, so that it is manually portable with easeand convenience.

V .A further object of the invention is to provide anirriga'tion device which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable irrigation device, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusual ofv the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device positioned inan irrigation basin for use; the parts of the device being shown in the positions occupied thereby when the valve is open.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but shows the device with the parts in valve shut-off and locked position.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings the improved irrigation device comprises a flat base I having a tubular standard 2 fixed thereon in upstanding position; such tubular standard 2 preferably being centered on the base I.

At its lower end portion the tubular standard 2 is formed with a circumferential row or water outlet ports 3.

The upper end of the tubular standard 2 is fitted with a valve unit, indicated at 4, which unit comprises a valve body in the form of a T: the central leg 6 of said T body projecting down-, wardly and being connected in communication 6 class; (01. 137 104) with the upper end of the tubular standard 2 by means of a coupling sleeve 1.

One laterally projecting neck 8 of the T body 5 is threaded for connection of a water supply hose 9 thereto by means of a coupling Ill.

Between the laterally projecting neck 8 and the: central chamber I I of the body 5 there is formed, within said body, an annular valve seat I2 having a reduced-diameter bore therethrough; said seat; I2 facing in the direction of the other laterally projecting neck I3.

A bushing I4 isthreaded into said other later-r ally projecting neck I3, and a valve plunger I5 slidably engages through said bushing for motion; axially of the valve seat I2.

' At its inner end the valve plunger I5 includes: a valve head I6 adapted to close against theseat l2 after movement across the central cham-- ber II. If desired, a compensating spring I! may surround the plunger I5 between the bushing I4 and valve head I6.

It will be recognized that when the valve plum-- ger I5 is urged inwardly to its limit of movement: that the valve head [6 closes against the valve; seat I2 to shut off flow of water from the water supply hose 9. However, upon outward axial. sliding motion of the plunger I5 the valve head. I6 retracts from the valve seat I2, permitting: water flow into the central chamber I I, down the: tubular standard 2, and out through the ports 3..

From the ports 3 the water flows first onto the: flat base I, spreading out thereon and then delivering easily or gently onto the ground whereby to prevent washing away of the latter beneath: or adjacent the irrigation device.

The valve plunger I5 is float controlled by means of the following float mechanism:

The laterally projecting neck I3 is formed, on the bottom, with a pair of downwardly and outwardly extending attachment ears I8 which straddle the upstanding leg I9 of a bellcrank lever 20; such leg I9 being pivoted to said ears- I8, as at 2|, for swinging movement in a plane extending axially of the plunger I5. At its up-- per end the leg I9 is formed with a fork 22 whiclr is received in a circumferential channel 23 on the outer end portion of the plunger I5, whereby swinging of the bellcrank lever 20 results'in;

axial sliding movement of said plunger I5. I The lower leg 24 of the bellcrank lever 20 projects laterally outwardly, and the inner endof an elongated rod 25 is secured to said leg; the; outer end of the rod carrying a ball type float 2.61.;

When the device is in use it is disposed inane irrigation basin 21', such as about the base 01' an 3 tree, and initially the float is in a lowered position, with the valve unit 4 open. See Fig. 1. With the device in this position water feeds from the supply hose 9, through and out of the device in the manner previously described, gradually filling the irrigation basin 21.

As the irrigation basin 2'! fills with water the float 26 gradually rises and causes swinging of the bellcrank lever 20 in a valve closing direction. At a predetermined level ofthe water in the irrigation basin 21 the float causes complete closing of the valve unit 4, and at this time such valve unit is automatically, but manually releasably, locked against reopening, even whenv the water level drops in the irrigation basin 21. This result is accomplished by the following lockingmechanism: i I H I A locking dog 28 is pivoted at one end, as at 29, to the elbow of the bellcrank lever 20',"and thence extends at an upward and inward incline toward the couplingsleeve i; such locking dog 28, being of a long 11 greater than the distance be tween said coupling sleeve 1 and the pivot 29 when the bellcrank lever 23 is in valve closing position.

Atthe outset the locking dog 28 occupies an upwardly released position, .as in Fig. 1, but-as the float 26 rises, with resultant outward swinging movement of the pivot is, such locking'dog gradually rides down said coup'ling sleeve "6, frictionally binding against the same to prevent re-- turn upward motion of said dog. Therefore, when the float 26 is in valve closing position, as in Fig. 2, the locking dog 28 has dropped to a position which automatically. prevents the bell-' cranklever 25 from swinging in a valve opening direction. Thus, even though the water in the basin 2'; seeps away, the irrigation device remains closed for moving'to another location by an attendant. Torelease the locking mechanism and reset the device for the next irrigation operation it is only necessary to'manually swing the locking dog 28 betweenthe position as in Fig. 2 to the position as in Fig. 1, whereupon the float 26 lowers to its starting point.

Cooperating stops 3% on the locking dog 28 and the bellcranlr lever 23 adjacent its elbow assure against lowering of the locking dog 28 below dead-center.

The described irrigation device provides for the practical, effective, and convenient delivery ofwater to an irrigation'basinwith automatic shut-off after the basin hasbeen filled to a desired level. The device is thus extremely useful. by orchardists and others'desiring to accomplish. controlled irrigation as distinguished from'gen-- eral flooding.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has beenpro'duced such adevice: as will substantially fulfill the objects-of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specificationsets forth in detail thepresent and preferred constructionofthe device,

stillin practice such deviations from suchdetail;

may be resorted to as do not form a departure: from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which. Letters Patent are desired:

1. An irrigation device comprising a base, a tubular standard on the base, there being a water outlet port in the standard adjacent the base, a valve unit mounted on the upper end of the.

4 valve unit being adapted for connection to a water supply hose, and means to open and close the valve unit; said means including a float, and other means cooperating with the above means operative to automatically, but normally releasably, lock said valve unit in valve closed position.

2. An irrigation device comprising a support, a valve unit mounted on the support, said valve b eingiadapte'd to connect toa water supply hose, waterlevehresponsive means to close the valve unit, and other means cooperating with said water level responsive means arranged to valve unit against reopening after closing by said water'level responsive means; the latter ineluding a float controlled lever, and said other means being a swingable locking dog positioned .tomove to a lever locking position upon said lever moving to a valve closing position.

i 3. An irrigation device comprising a support, :a-valve unit mounted on thesupport, said valve .unit being adapted to connect to a water supply hose, the valve unit including a plunger slidable 'to close said unit, a pivoted lever connected to the plunger in sliding relation thereto, a water level responsive float connected to the lever in actuating relationthereto, whereby rising of the fioat to a'predetermined point causes swinging of the lever, and sliding theplunger, in directions, and to positions,'to close the valve unit, and other means arranged to] automatically, but manually releasably;lock said lever in said valve closing'position upon the. float rising to said point; said other means being. a locking dog pivoted on the lever for swingingmotionto a'locked position bearing on a fixed part of the device.

4. An irrigation device comprising a base, "a standard .on'the base, a valve unit mounted on the upper end of the standard, said valve unit being adaptedior connection toa water supply lhose, the valve unit including a laterally project- .ing valve control plunger, a plunger actuating .lever pivotally mounted-intermediate its. ends 'below the plunger ,for swinging in a plane, and

.ina'directionyto urge the plunger inwardlyto a valve closing; position, the lower part of the lever moving awayrfrom the-standard uponzswinging of the lever in said direction, anzupwardly and :inwardly; inclined locking dog pivoted on said .lower partof the. lever and projecting into engagement'with the standard, the dog being of a length to bind againstsaid'standard when the .lever swings in said direction, and water level :responsive meanssto so swing the lever.

5.'An irrigation device comprising a base, a :standard onrthe base, a'valve unit mounted on the upper end or the standard, said valve'unit being .adapted'for connection to a water supply hose, the valve *unit inclu'ding a laterally projecting valve control plunger, a plunger actuating lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends below the plungerforswinging in a plane, and in a i direction, to urg'ethe plunger inwardly to a valve closing. position, the lower part of the lever mov- .ing away from the standard upon swinging of theleverin said direction, an upwardly and inwardly inclined locking dog pivoted on said lower ;part of the lever and projecting into engage- 'ment'with the standard, the dog being of a length to bind against-said standard when the lever swings in said direction, and water level respon- ,sive means to so swing the lever; said last named standard inoutletcommunication therewith. sai'ii 75 h' ing a float connected-to saidlever.

6. An irrigation device comprising a base, a tubular standard on the base, there being a water outlet port in the standard adjacent the base, a valve unit mounted on the upper end of the standard in outlet communication therewith, the valve unit including a T-body whose central neck is connected to the standard, one lateral neck being adapted to connect to a water supply hose, a valve unit control plunger slidably projecting out of the other lateral neck of the T-body, inward sliding of the plunger closing said valve unit, an attachment ear depending from said other lateral neck below the plunger, a bell crank lever below said other lateral neck, such lever including an upstanding leg connected in actuating relation to the plunger, a lower leg of the bellcrank lever projecting laterally outward, means pivoting the upstanding leg intermediate its ends to the attachment ear, a rod projecting outward from the lower leg, a float on the outer end of the rod, and an upwardly and inwardly inclined locking dog pivoted to the bell- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 395,726 Walter Jan. 8, 1889 445,510 Black Jan. 27, 1891 673,695 Blueher May 7, 1901 1,022,345 Watkins Apr. 2, 1912 2,020,463 Fillmann Nov. 12, 1935 2,145,052 Lund Jan. 24, 1939 2,148,419 Parker Feb. 21, 1939 2,289,889 Stick July 14, 1942 

